Footballers seek therapy in record numbers, according to the Professional Footballers' Association.
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A record number of footballers are seeking mental health support, according to the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).
Michelle Bennett is the director of player welfare at the PFA.
She expects the organisation to help ‘double or treble’ the number of players in 2019 than it did in 2018.
Bennett says the increase is “a good thing” – as it shows increased trust in the PFA – rather than a growing problem.
“The biggest ever conversation around mental health”
Since January, 355 professionals have accessed therapy – the highest number ever recorded by the end of a season.
The figure for the whole of 2018 was 438, having risen from 160 in 2016.
He expects to see a spike in the number of players seeking help in the coming weeks as clubs decide who will not be retained for next season.
“Harness the influence and popularity of football”
The news comes as the Football Association launches a new campaign
A new campaign using football to “generate the biggest ever conversation around mental health.”
In partnership with mental health charity Heads Together, ‘Heads Up’ will “harness the influence and popularity of football” to “show the world that mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness”.
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HeadlineFootballers seeking mental health help in record numbers
Short HeadlineFootballers access with mental health in record numbers
StandfirstSince January, 355 professional footballers have accessed therapy
A record number of footballers are seeking mental health support, according to the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).
Michelle Bennett is the director of player welfare at the PFA.
She expects the organisation to help ‘double or treble’ the number of players in 2019 than it did in 2018.
Bennett says the increase is “a good thing” – as it shows increased trust in the PFA – rather than a growing problem.
“The biggest ever conversation around mental health”
Since January, 355 professionals have accessed therapy – the highest number ever recorded by the end of a season.
The figure for the whole of 2018 was 438, having risen from 160 in 2016.
He expects to see a spike in the number of players seeking help in the coming weeks as clubs decide who will not be retained for next season.
“Harness the influence and popularity of football”
The news comes as the Football Association launches a new campaign
A new campaign using football to “generate the biggest ever conversation around mental health.”
In partnership with mental health charity Heads Together, ‘Heads Up’ will “harness the influence and popularity of football” to “show the world that mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness”.
